Marawi death toll rises; 105 soldiers dead

In the days before the House of Representatives extended martial law over Mindanao, upon deliberation and at the behest of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Armed Forces of the Philippines saw more men fell among their ranks in Marawi City.

One incident saw four soldiers killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated as they were clearing a building.

On 21 July 2017, a fighter of the Army Light Reaction force was in the process of clearing a building in the battle zone when a sniper’s bullet killed him, according to a news outlet. He was the 100th soldier killed in action during the Marawi siege.

The deaths were officially put on record last 22 July 2017.

With these new casualties, the death toll among members of the AFP passed the three-digit mark and stands at 105, according to AFP Chief Gen. Eduardo Año, who stood as a resource person during the joint session of Congress.

In addition to the slain soldiers, the Marawi siege has seen a total of 428 members of the Maute Group killed and has resulted in the recovery of at least 526 firearms from the hands of the terrorists. The civilian death toll remains at 45. A total of 1,723 civilians have been rescued by military troops and non-government organizations from the worst of the fighting.

The five-month extension of martial law in Mindanao was granted on the 61st day of the Marawi crisis. Martial law will remain in effect over the island group until 31 December 2017.

In a prepared statement on the extension, AFP Public Affairs Chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said, “It is an acclamation of the sacrifices of every soldier, airman, sailor, and marine who died or whose limbs were lost fighting or while supporting the fight to retake Marawi and liberate the hostages.”